No drive from 730i please help?

Hi,

I am new to the site but you all seem a hell of alot more knowledgable than me!

I bought a 730i SE BMW two days ago (E Reg), I drove the car back to my home and everything was perfect, very smooth gearbox changes, in fact I did not notice the box changes thats how smooth it was. After about 160 miles my revs when wild (after slowing down!) so I opened the bonnet and found the throttle cable had popped out of its housing and was catching, so I simply put the plastic plug back in and started the car. Hey presto the revs where correct I thought I had repaired the fault enough to get home. I pulled back onto the motorway but the car had no power, the engine was ticking over great but no power? I pulled the car back onto the slip road and found that no matter what I put the auto box into there was nothing happening, although if I put the box into 'D' and press nothing it would trickle along the hard shoulder?

Some body has mentioned fluid and fluid change could this be what it is? I have no experience in the service of an auto box so any advice is very appreciated 

Just to clarify the loss in power has almost immediate infact probably only over a period of 1 mile and there was no loud bangs or any strange noises?

Many thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you bought the car from a dealer you might be able to return it for a refund.

do you like the car apart from the fault?

loss of drive can be various things.

the cables/rods from the gear shifter to the gearbox may have failed in some way.

my E32 suddenly lost all drive. the metal bracket holding the shift linkage had rusted thru. simple repair for a competant mechanic and BMW now supply an improved bracket, so it is a known weakness.

tell us all about your car, and pics please.

welcome to the board!

Thanks for the replies guys it is appreciated!

Philip> Yes I do like the car and I have been looking for a project 7 series for a while, I don't honestly like the look of the new 7 series as much or the one before it, sorry if you have one I am sure its fantastic just does nothing for me. I have owned 318i, 320i, 325i, 523i, 635csi & 635 Highline, so although I am new to the forum as you can see I am a bit BMW mad!

Ok update!

I broke down on the motorway so I had to use a recovery firm, I had the car taken straight away to the garage I use (I was doing this anyway!). I visited this morning and have been told that the torque converter is shot! There is fluid but its dirty and I have opted to have the gearbox removed and totally rebuilt. I will keep you informed to how the gearbox work is going and if its a good job I will post the company details for you all (hopefully you do not need the details but I offer it in good spirit!). Personally after talking to some gearbox specialists today I think the entire gearbox is shot hey hoe!

I have been quoted anything from �800+VAT upto �1950+VAT but the funny thing is the only guy who seemed to really understand the problem had reconditioned a 730i gearbox last week and guess what? he has quoted me �500 inclusive and �70 for the pickup of the vehicle. So as I said there maybe some business for him from you guys if he does a good job, talk soon!